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v-e. VYV\ o -,'1 1~. C'T 

Proceedings at the Unveiling of 
tlie Portrait of 

Rear-Admiral Charles E. Clark 

October 29, 1902 



THE 



STATE HOUSE 



AT 



Montpelier, Vermont 



JOINT RESOLUTION 

Resok'cd by the Senate and House of Ref^reseutatic'es: 

That the Clerk of the House of Representatives is 
herehv (hrected tn prc^ciire the printing of one thousand 
copies of the report of the proceedings attenthng the un- 
veiling and presentation of the portrait of Rear Admiral 
Charles E. Clark on Octoher 29th, 1902, for the use of 
the (icneral Assenihly. 

John H. Merrifield. 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Zed S. Stanton, 

President of the Senate. 
ApproA-ed Noveniher 11, 1902. 
John G. McCullough, 
Governor. 

State oe Vermont, 
Office of Secretary of State. 

I herehv certifv that the foregoing is a true copy of 
the original resolution approxed Novemlier i 1, 1902. 
Frederick G. Fleetwood. 

Secretary of State. 
Deceniher 2. 1902. 



3^ W03 



H9^ p^. of S. 



IN JOINT ASSEMBLY, 
October 29th, 1902. 2.05 P. M. 

The Senate and House of Representatives met in the 
Hall of the House of Representatives, in pursuance of a 
joint resolution, which was read by the Clerk and is as 
follows : 

Resolved by the Senate and House of Represeiitatk'es: 

That the two houses meet in joint assembly on 
Wednesday, October 29th, instant, at two o'clock and five 
minutes in the afternoon for the purpose of receiving the 
portrait of Rear Admiral Charles E. Clark, U. S. N. 

His Honor Zed S. Stanton, 

President of the Senate, in the Chair. 

Frederick G. Fleetwood, 

Secretary of State, Clerk. 



ADDRESS BY 
HON. WILLIAM W. STICKNEY 

FORMER GOVERNOR OF VERMONT 




WILLIAM W. STICKNEY. 



ADDRESS 



Mr. President: 

It is less than a week ago that we met here to pay a 
fitting tril)nte to brave Liscnm, who "lives in fame, though 
not in life." The American Army of our time has af- 
forded few finer examples of the true soldier than the 
Vermonter whom on that occasion we chose to honor. 

i>ut he was present in memory alone, and, while the 
tale of his splendid record was being told, he was sleep- 
ing in a soldier's grave in far-away Arlington. W'e had 
with us only his portrait, which is, at best, but a counter- 
feit on canvas of his true self. Beneath a painted breast 
the heart throbs not, and pictured lips never break into 
voice to greet us. 

To-day we assemble again to honor another distin- 
guished Vermonter, a representative of the American 
Navy, whose career on the seas has made his name fa- 
miliar in e\ery land on which the waves of the ocean beat. 
And it is our good fortune to have with us here both his 
portrait and his presence. We rejoice that he returns 
laden with honors which reHect credit upon his nati\'e 
State. We are also glad to find that he still lo\es the hills 
and takes pride in his mountain home. 



The General Assembly at its October session two 
years ago adopted a joint resolution which is the prelude 
of (lur meeting to-day. 

I will ask the Clerk to read it. 
The Clerk read as follow^s : 

"Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Verviont: 

That the Governor be, and is hereby commissioned and di- 
rected in behalf of the people of the State, to signify to Captain 
Charles E. Clark, late commander of the United States Battle- 
ship Oregon, and a loyal son of Vermont, their desire that he 
sit for a portrait to be placed, with a suitable inscription, in 
the State Capitol in commemoration of his distinguished services 
to his country in command of the Oregon, and as a token of 
the abiding affection and admiration of all the people of his 
native State. 

Resolved, Further, that the Governor is hereby authorized 
to contract with a painter of competent ability and experience 
for the painting of a portrait of Captain Clark for the purpose 
herein specified, employing in all particulars pertaining thereto 
his best judgment and discretion; and the State Auditor is 
hereby directed to draw his order on the State Treasurer in 
favor of the Governor for any moneys expended, or required to 
be expended, in the execution of this commission, including the 
expenses of the Governor incurred therein, and all expenses en- 
tailed upon Captain Clark in complying with the request of 
the General Assembly in respect of the painting of the portrait 
in question. 

And it is specially Resolved, That in taking action on the 
foregoing proposition, in each house of the General Assembly, 
the members rise in their places as a distinguishing mark of 
homage to a commander eminent alike for his ability, his brav- 
ery, his devotion to duty, and his modesty, and who has made 
one of the brightest pages in the naval history of any country." 



A c(ipy of the foregoing was sent l)y me to Captain 
Clark and the l>ody of his reply is worthy of a place in 
these proceedings, and was as follows : 

"Your highly esteemed letter enclosing a certified copy of 
the Joint Resolution of the General Assembly of Vermont has 
been received, and I thank you gratefully for the way in which 
you speak of the signal honor which has been accorded me, es- 
pecially for your words, 'One of her sons who has been faithful 
to every duty.' I cannot read those resolutions without being 
deeply affected, nor think without emotion of the great distinc- 
tion that came to me through the action of all the members of 
both legislative bodies rising when my name was mentioned, rep- 
resenting as they did the State and the people I love so much. 

Perhaps the best way for me to acknowledge the obligation 
I am under to that people and its distinguished representatives, 
is to refer to the noble ship and company they have so greatly 
honored through me. 

When we left the other ships on the coast of Brazil, and 
pushed ahead at full speed, I believed the W^est Indies would be 
the scene of the decisive conflict, and therefore that the risk of 
an encounter with the Spanish fleet should be incurred notwith- 
standing the warnings given of its superiority. These were mo- 
ments when the responsibilities assumed weighed heavily, but 
I was inspired by thoughts of the march of the Sixth Corps to 
Gettysburg under the lamented Sedgwick, whose order was: 'Put 
the Vermonters at the head and tell the rest to keep up.' And 
by the memory of Warner's Green Mountain Boys hurrying to 
save the day at Bennington, that first 'High water mark' of effort 
against the nation's life, for there began the series of strokes 
that ended at Saratoga, classed with Gettysburg among the de- 
cisive battles of the world." 

Under the authority conferred by the resolution 
which has heen read l)v the Clerk, ]\Ir. Frederic P. Vinton 



of Boston, a gentleman eminent in the art of portrait 
painting, was awarded the commission. 

I now have the Iionor to report that he has completed 
the work asigned him and prodnced a portrait which is 
historical in character. 

This morning I received a commnnication from him 
which explains itself. 

He writes : 



"In the portrait of Captain Clark I represent him standing 
on the top of the thirteen ineh gun turret, in front of the con- 
ning tower, under the pilot house. Behind him is the six inch 
gun turret, from which projects the guns trained to starboard 
and ready to fire. The pilot-house is only two feet above his 
head. The ship has her war-paint on — a lead colored gray. The 
Captain's uniform is, as I believe, the identical uniform worn by 
him at the battle of Santiago, and is correct according to the 
Naval regulations of that time. During the engagement the 
officers wore no swords. The moment chosen by me for my 
painting is that when the Oregon was in full chase of the Colon, 
after having placed the other Spanish ships Jiors de combat, — 
two of which are seen burning on the beach in the distance. 
The day of the battle opened fair, but the smoke from the guns 
later overcast the sky in which, here and there, may be seen 
patches of blue. To help out my composition I have imagined 
the smoke from the stacks blowing down to soften the hard line 
of the pilot-house. 

1 placed the horizon line low in order to give dignity to 
the figure. The details of the ship I obtained, in a measure, 
from studies made on the 'Indiana' when she was in New Lon- 
don. The 'Indiana' is the sister ship of the 'Oregon,' and is 
like her in essential features of constructiim. From Captain 



Clark I received much information regarding details, the condi- 
tions of the sky, etc., and as to his position at the time chosen. 
From Lieutenant Eberle, who was in close communication with 
Captain Clark during the battle, I learned the exact details of 
what I have tried to represent. It was Lieutenant Eberle who 
wrote the 'Story of the Captains' in the Century Magazine. 

In this attempt of mine to paint a historical portrait, and 
not the ordinary portrait of commerce, I feel that I have done 
what should have been done, and that those who come after us 
will see what manner of man the Great Commander at Santiago 
(for such he was), was like, and how he looked on the turret of 
the 'Oregon' during that memorable day. 

The Captain has another side to his character, and some may 
miss in this work of mine, the bonhomie which flashes out in his 
talk when in friendly intercourse; but for the purpose for which 
this portrait is intended, it seems to me to fairly represent the 
man, the hero, and the son whom the State delights to honor." 

The picture for the present has been placed in the 
vestibule of the Hall of the House of Representatives, 
and now, in this Joint Assemlily, I deliver it. through His 
Excellency, Go\-ernor McCullough, to the State. 

In all the coming" years may it remain in this Capitol 
teaching its lesson of fidelity and \-alor. 

I have said that this pc^rtrait is, in character, his- 
torical. 

Let us recall a few events of recent history : 

It has been observed "that upon our national arms 
the American Eagle is represented as holding in one talon 
the olive Ijranch of peace, and in the other the shafts of 
war. He leaves it to his adversaries which to choose." 



Spain selected war. 

Then in tlie heart ni every patriot all over the land 
arose the qnestion, — Will this generation also snccess- 
fnllv nphold the Mag which the fathers so zealonsly 
gnarded and transmitted U> their keeping? 

In the conihat. which came and went with almost the 
rapidity of shadows traversing the monntain side, the 
condnct of the men of this nation is eloqnent. It declares 
that patriotism is not dying ont. 

In the achievements of the Spanish war we were 
not behind the other States of the Union. Vermont 
has no seaboard and it is remarkable that she took so 
l>rominent a part in the fights on the water. 

It is modern history that in obedience to the com- 
mand of his snperiors to tind the Spanish sqnadron and 
destroy it, Dewey by night entered Manila Bay, passed 
forts, sailed over mines, and as soon as the dawn ap- 
peared attacked Montojo's fleet and disabled it. and. long 
before noon-day finished its complete destruction and put 
the Phili])pines under the protection of our flag. 

But, to-dav, our interest centers around the sailor 
who crowned us with honor in the l)attle which destroyed 
Cervera's ships. It is now everywhere acknowledged that 
the typical hero in that fight was Captain Clark who 
sailed the Oregon. He said little but did much. 



It has l>een said that the triumph of American me- 
chanical genius was in the construction of the Oregon, 
and that in her management was the triumph of American 
mechanical skill. 

This battle-ship was built upon honor. 

With machinery in perfect order and at high speed 
she ploughed the deep through crest of the wave and 
trough of the sea, — the length of two oceans. For the 
sailor in command was complete master of the situation. 
It is still true as Gibbon said, "The winds and waves are 
alwavs on the side of the ablest navigators." 

When at Bahia, Clark learned from the government 
that Cervera's fleet was crossing the Atlantic and he was 
warned to lie on the lookout and pri\ileg'ed to remain 
there safe-harbored under pretense of repairing his ship. 
But he stayed not. 

He said, in substance, to his men : "Lads, I am going 
out. The Spanish ships are upon the sea. It is idle to 
underrate their strength; but if we do meet them they 
will not look as well afterwards as they did before." 

He was not destined, however, to meet the Spanish 
fleet alone. 

You remember how one Sunday morning in July 
just thirtv-flve vears after Gettysburg the Spanish com- 
mander made his fatal dash to escape from Santiago Bay, 



and liow our l)attlesliips and cruisers and other vessels, 
that kept guard, attacked the Spanish squadron. 

Tlie ships on either side were not ahogether unequak 

The inequalit}- was rather in the men and their 
leaders. When the smoke from the enemy's ships tirst 
arose over Sacopa Hill and the command was given, "All 
hands clear ship for action," the hres under the l)oilers 
of the Oreg(jn were all aglow, her steam was up and she 
was the tirst battleship to move. 

Although standing next to the eastermost ship in the 
line, she started west and with streaming pennant passed 
the Iowa and the Texas. 

Clark had sa\ed the best coal for the emergency, 
and he now used it to adxantage and sent his ship after 
the enemy with the speed of a cruiser. 

When the Spanish Admiral swung out of the harbor 
into the ocean his entire fleet was raked fore and aft with 
shot and shell, and the whole scpiadron left a heap of 
ruins along the shore. 

Five of his ships were beached within twenty miles 
from the start, while the Christobal Colon was chased for 
fifty miles and pounded to destruction b\- the Oregon and 
Brooklvn. 



Let it not 1)6 forgotten that the Oregon never ahan- 
doned a ship of the enemy until (lisal)led and put out of 
service. 

Of the Oregon in her pursuit of the Colon, one. who 
knew, said : "Captain Clark saw the danger and had a talk 
with the engine room and the great gray ship, sound in 
wind and limh, responded to the call like a nohle horse 
that feels the spurs. The strength of a nation that knows 
no defeat was in her frames and the pride of that nation 
fought her guns and guided her with a sure hand." 

There is a document in the Navy Department at 
AWashington which concludes as follows: "I cannot close 
this report without mentioning in high terms of praise the 
splendid conduct and support of Captain C. E. Clark of 
the Oregon. Her speed was wonderful and her accurate 
firing splendidly destructive." 

Our Captain, vigilant and brave, has never tar- 
nished his shield by any scramble for precedence or pro- 
motion. He sought pf)sition, it is true, Init it was the 
positiou confronting the foe that he might smite the as- 
sail.'uits of our flag with blows which would tell. 

He is a Vermonter, and his whole action has con- 
sisted in doing his best in the line of duty. .And when 
the record of that famous sea fight off the southern 
shore of Cuba is ultimatelv ti.xed in history, high on the 



scroll of honor and above all others, will be the name of 
Captain Clark of the Oregon. 

This mountaineer has established at least three max- 
ims for the future conduct of naval warfare : 

When near the enemy akcays be ready ; Save the 
best fuel for the fight; and, If the enemy flees turn bat- 
tleship into cruiser. 

Permit me in conclusion to say, in language as ap- 
propriate now as in the days of King Henry the Sixth : 

"Welcome, brave Captain, and victorious lord; 
A stouter champion never handled sword." 



I 



ACCEPTANCE BY 
GOV. JOHN G. McCULLOUGH 




John G. McCullough. 



ACCEPTANCE 

In accepting the portrait. Governor McCul lough 
said : 

Mr. Prrsidciif, Govcnior Stickncy and Gcntlciiicn of the 
Joint Assembly: 

As last week, so to-day, it is my privilege and pleasant 
dntv in the name and on behalf of the State of Vermont, 
to accept the canvas that stands on the easel in yonder 
corridor. 

Then it was the portrait of a dead hero. On this 
occasion it is the portrait of a living hen^ Living or 
dead, \>rmont is ever i)rond to do honor to her heroic 
sons. Let this canvas hang upon the walls of this Capitol 
building for all the years of the future as a titting me- 
mento of the man. 

The words of the resolution of the General As- 
seml)lv of two vears ago, just read 1)y the Secretary, in- 
viting Captain Clark, (it was then; Rear-Admiral Clark 
it is now. and should ha\-e been from the moment the 
Oregon entered the line of battleships around Santiago), 
to sit for his portrait to be placed here in commemoration 
of the distinguished services to his country, rendered on 
Ixiard the Oregon, and as a token of the abiding atTection 



and admiratif^n nf this people, are but the expression of the 
trntlifnl and nohle tribute of his native State, to her great 
naval commander. 

And the words of the response of the gallant captain, 
that often, during that historic trip of fifteen thousand 
miles, as he drove the Oregon at l)reak-neck speed and 
without an accident, swinging around the continent from 
San Francisco to Santiago, weighed down by his respon- 
sibilities, he was encouraged and inspired Ijy the thought 
of the famous order of Sedgwick to the Sixth Corps, as 
they started on their march to Gettysburg, "Put none but 
Vermonters in front, and let the rest keep up;" — and 
was often encouraged and inspired too by the memory of 
\\ arner's boys hurrying down from Manchester, to save 
the da\- at Bennington ; — and doubtless also often, 
(although he says nothing about it in his letter, for as 
he remarked in his modest way to Secretary Moody a few 
weeks ago, "You know, Mr. Secretary of the Navy, I was 
with Farragut"), he was encouraged and inspired by the 
recollection of that daring and brilliant and desperate 
feat of Admiral Farragut at Mobile Bay, when the tor- 
pedoes were exploding and his iron-clads were sinking 
and the Brooklyn was backing and confusing his battle 
line, lashing himself to the main-top of the Hartford and 
signalling his forces to move ahead, and winning, after 



r 



a three hours' hg'ht, a victory that conferred imperisha1)le 
renown upon the American Navy and that (hmmed the 
histre of Trafalg-ar : — these recohections and recalhng- 
these memories, show the innate greatness, the subhme 
courage, the fighting quahties of this "hill-born hero of 
the seas;" and that he was conscious all the while that 
upon his shoulders rested the reputation of his native 
State and upon him the eyes of the nation were centered. 
How well and how faithfully he met their expectations 
and performed his task, history will forever attest. 

And the incident referred to by Governor Stickney, 
that while pushing the Oreg'on to her utmost, stopping 
for a little while at Rio, that the Oregon might catch her 
jjreath, and there finding the information from the Secre- 
tary of the Navy that the great Spanish fleet was on the 
Atlantic looking out for him, and giving him discre- 
tionary orders whether to remain in port under the pre- 
tense of repairing his ship, or to go ahead, called his bovs 
together and after explaining to them the serious char- 
acter of the situation, said to them: "Lads, I am going 
out and if we meet the Spanish fleet they will be hand- 
somer before than after we have seen them:" and he did 
go out and kept going until he sank the Cristolxal Colon 
off Santiago. 



/ 



All these things show, Mr. President, the mettle of 
the man; and that it was in his hlnod ; that the iron of 
these hills was in his veins, the marble of these monn- 
tains in his bones. They prove that Vermont still breeds 
Ethan Aliens and John Starks. 

Then let this portrait remain on the walls of this 
Capitol bnilding- — aye, thongh this stately edifice crnmble 
into dust, let Vermont preserve this portrait, that her 
yonth for all the years of the fntnre may look upon it and 
learn to imitate and emulate the virtues and the valor of 
her distinguished son. 



REMARKS OF 
REAR ADMIRAL CHARLES E. CLARK 




Charles E. Ci.ark. 



ADMIRAL CLARK'S REMARKS 

Mr. President, Members of the General .-Isseiiibly and 
friends: 

I know that what 1 may say or fail to say wih nut be 
regarded by you as a measure oi my api)reciation of the 
honor of being presented to the Legislature of the State 
I love so much. I am deeply alYected by it, by the thought 
of all it means, Ijy what has l^een said and by the enthu- 
siasm eyoked. And I l^elieye. indeed I am sure, that true 
friendship and regard and the attachiuent Vermonters 
feel for each other ins])ire(l the speakers and you who 
listened to and applauded their words. 

And I am so grateful for all the honors that have 
been bestowed upon me here by \-otes that were unani- 
mous, by acts of the Executi\es and b)- the officials of 
both Houses and the State. But I cannot thank you nor 
gi\'e expression to my feelings. Y(ju know how I must 
feel at bein.g received in this way at the capital of my 
native State, within her State House walls, and by the 
chosen representatives of all her people. 



Tlie Joint Assembly dissolved. 

Frederick G. Fleetwood, 

Secretary of State. 



LIUKHKY Oh CUNljKti>i> 



013 903 079 5 ^ 



